[GL] Black Gold

Chapter 70

Camie felt the room turn cold. She could feel her entire body cool down and had no idea what to say. She wasn't even sure that she heard it correctly. The world slowed down. Had her father just asked what she thought he asked? Did he know something? Had she said something? Had he seen something? Had Théa told him something?

Seeing her in such a state made her father smile:

"You really found yourself a good match, Camie."

That immediately woke her up:

"What? Wait... No. I... It's not like that. We are not..."

Mister Dred finally laughed:

"You're not together yet?

-No.

-I see.

-Dad!"

Camie could feel her cheeks turn incredibly warm and she tried her best to hide behind her hands.

"Stop it!

-Okay, okay. I'm sorry, darling. It's okay no matter what your relationship is. All that matters is that you are happy.

-Dad!"

Despite how awkward Camie felt, she couldn't help smiling. She couldn't describe how relieved she felt. Not for the relationship talk but for the rest. She didn't realize how stressful it was being the only one to know. She didn't realize how heavy she felt until then.

"I wanted to tell you but I couldn't.

-I know, darling. It's okay. I am here for you."

That sounded so nice that Camie couldn't help the tears.

"Camie..."

She jumped into her dad's arms and he held her with all the strength he had.

"I love you, dad.

-I love you too, darling. I will always love you. And now I can worry about you slightly less."

They started laughing when they suddenly heard the bathroom door open. Camie got scared and jumped backwards, trying her best to wipe away her tears. Seeing that made Théa immediately worried. She finally went back to her usual self and rushed to Camie, her hands close to her shoulders but not touching:

"Camie? Is everything okay? Are you hurt somewhere?"

Mister Dred smiled:

"Everything is fine, Amaltheia. Camie and I were just having a little bonding moment."

Théa immediately took a step back:

"I am so sorry! I didn't mean to intrude.

-Don't worry. You are always welcome here. Thank you for being here for Camie in the worst situations. I really appreciate it once again."

They exchanged a weird look before Mister Dred looked at his watch:

"That being said, your old man is getting tired."

Camie rolled her eyes:

"You aren't old.

-Goodnight. If you are hungry there's snacks in the fridge.

-Goodnight."

Being left together, the girls went to Camie's room. The latter didn't know how to say it but now that they were alone she had to ask. She forced herself to talk:

"Are you okay?"

Théa smiled at Camie gently:

"Can I ask you a question?"

Camie thought she didn't want to answer and quickly nodded:

"Of course.

-What would you do? I'm sorry. You don't have to answer."

Camie immediately knew what she was talking about. Somehow, having just talked with her father didn't make that question feel burdensome.

"It's okay."

Théa looked at Camie, her eyes shining with expectation.

"I don't want to tell you."

She quickly shook her head. Camie had no idea what had been going on through Théa's head all that time. She didn't know what she was planning to do or how she was planning to act but she knew one thing:

"I mean, I don't want to tell you what to do. You are the only person who knows what you want to do. I can help you decide but I can't decide for you. But know that no matter what you do, I will always be here for you. Just do whatever you want. I will support you."

Théa suddenly looked relaxed:

"Really?

-Yes."

They both smiled at each other.

"I don't care what you do, Théa. It won't change how I-"

Camie suddenly stopped.

"How you?

-Nothing!"

She turned around but Théa wasn't going to let her off the hook so easily:

"What were you going to say?

-Nothing! I wasn't talking. I am silent as a tomb."

Théa didn't like the comparison and frowned.

"Don't say such things."

Théa suddenly looked as worried as after her accident and Camie lowered her head:

"Sorry."

Théa immediately went back to smirking and got closer to Camie's face:

"It's okay. So what were we saying?

-Nothing.

-I don't think it was nothing. You were saying that no matter what I did it wouldn't change how you see me. Or was it something else? How you feel-"

Camie screamed, covering her ears not to hear the rest. Seeing her panic made Théa laugh and despite being happy to see her go back to her usual self, Camie didn't take her hands off her ears.

"I don't feel anything. I never felt anything in my entire life. What are feelings? Don't know them. I don't have a limbic system."

Théa couldn't stop laughing and seeing her like that distracted Camie. She forgot to cover her ears for a second and Théa immediately jumped on the occasion:

"So you never felt anything when you looked at me?"

Camie almost choked. Her body started shaking but she had to put an end to that conversation. She didn't know what would happen if she didn't.

"No."

Camie felt bad saying that but fortunately Théa didn't get hurt. On the contrary:

"Then I should try harder."